Wall panel system

ABSTRACT

A wall panel system comprises an array of panels that provide a prefinished wall surface. The panels may be of the same or different sizes and include grooves or reveals supporting inserts that cooperate to provide rectangular faux panels or other wall panel designs. A trim system for mounting the panels to a support wall includes elongated trim strips for completing panel edges and corners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

This invention relates to wall systems and, more particularly, to a wallpanel system comprising an array of panels that cooperatively provide afinished wall surface.

Systems are known for assembling arrays of individual wall panels toproduce a finished wall surface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,838,546, 4,783,941 and4,854,095 each illustrate examples of such systems. Similar systems arealso disclosed in assignee's prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,020 and5,694,727 wherein panels or tiles of relatively small size, e.g., one orseveral feet on edge, are provided in an upscale more costly wallsystem. Typically, a frame or grid is initially installed and theindividual panels are then mounted on the frame or grid in such systems.In some instances, clips are provided to secure and position the panelson the grid structure.

Such systems tend to be relatively complex and require a number ofdifferent structural elements which must be assembled by skilledinstallers. The systems do not readily lend themselves to alternativeassembly techniques which may provide different overall appearances inaccordance with designer aesthetic preferences. Similarly, the systemsdo not tend to easily accommodate unique support wall configurations.

Frequently, such systems are so-called progressive systems in thatassembly and disassembly of the wall system must be sequential beginningwith an edge or periphery panel. That is, in order to remove anintermediate panel, neighboring panels must first be removed beginningat an extremity of the wall panel system. This is a time consumingprocess, and it is especially disadvantageous in wall panel systemshaving locations of high wear or incidence of damage since frequentlyworn or damaged panels are not individually and easily replaced. Forexample, panel installations in public buildings, a hallway, dooradjacent locations or the like tend to require frequent replacement ofindividual panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an improved panel system which offers flexibilityof configuration and enables combinations of panels of various areasizes. The panels are rectangular which includes square for purposesherein.

The panels may be scored vertically and horizontally in square,rectangular or linear patterns. The panels are mechanically fastened tothe wall through the horizontal reveals.

The wall panel system may include repeating sequences of panels ofdifferent area sizes which cooperate to provide a prefinished wallsurface. The panels are typically formed of a high-pressure laminate ona wood fiber substrate. The laminate may be provided with a wood grainor colored front or exposed surface.

The panels may be sized for floor-to-ceiling, wainscot or column-wrapinstallations. Accordingly, full wall panels may be 4′ or 5′ wide by 8′or 10′ tall, wainscot may be 4′ by 4′, 8′ by 4′ or 10′ by 4′ andcolumn-wrap panels may be 2′ by 8′ or 2′ by 10′. As described below,panels of different sizes may be combined to provide a finished wallsurface. The panels include reveals and reveal inserts that may bearranged to provide a repeating uniform pattern from panel-to-panel or acombined panel comprehensive pattern.

As indicated, the prefinished wall surface may be provided with arepeating design characterized by a plurality of smaller faux panelsurfaces. For example, a 4′×4′ panel may be provided with horizontal andvertical grooves fitted with reveal inserts that cooperate to providethe prefinished wall surface with the appearance of an array of four 2′by 2′ square faux panels. In this manner, the panels provide theappearance of smaller, individually installed panels or tiles, and theadvantages of large panel installation.

In another arrangement, the prefinished wall surface may be providedwith an overall integrated design appearance wherein adjacent panelsprovide different portions of a comprehensive design pattern extendingover a plurality of panels. For example, a repeating array of threeadjacent panels may include an aligned pair of horizontally extendingreveal inserts extending along the surfaces of all three panels andintersecting vertical reveal inserts in only one or more of the panels.Of course, the pattern of reveal inserts may be identical in all threepanels.

The panel system is directly fastened to a support wall, as by fastenerswithin the grooves, and covered by the reveal inserts. In addition, atrim system cooperates in the panel mounting.

The trim system complements the appearance of both the faux paneldesigns and the integrated plural panel designs. To that end, the trimsystem includes elongate trim strips or elements characterized bysubstantially planar flat trim walls. The trim wall engagessubstantially the entire area of the associated panel edge to provideeffective protection against panel edge impacts that might otherwisetend to delaminate the panel.

The flat trim wall extends slightly beyond the surface of the panel to aflat trim surface that is substantially parallel with the panel wallsurface. The trim system forms a dimensional outline of the paneldisposed in a plane different from that of the panel surface.

In addition to providing a finished trim appearance that isaesthetically pleasing, the trim system is also efficient in that thestrips thereof may be used for multiple purposes. For example, thevertical trim strips may also be used as inside corner trim strips asdescribed below.

The outside corner trim strips or elements similarly outline the paneledges while providing protection against side impacts. To that end, theoutside corner trim strips also include planar trim walls engagingadjacent panel edges and terminating in trim surfaces that are parallelwith the adjacent panel surface. The trim strips are provided withsimple geometric configurations that are easily manufactured, asmetallic extrusions.

In an alternative arrangement, the trim system may include an array edgetrim strip having a channel shape. The edge of the panel array isreceived in the channel shape to present a trim surface of increasedwidth. For example, the front surface of the edge trim may have a widthsubstantially equal to that of the reveal insert. This may be used withfaux panel surfaces to complete the appearance of an array of smallerpanels.

In yet another arrangement, the trim system may include an outsidecorner trim strip or element having a central trim portion aligned withthe intersection line of the corner and laterally extending trimportions overhanging and engaging the adjacent panel surfaces. The trimportions include separately mounted trim pieces that may be selected tomatch or contrast panel surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a portion of awall panel system in accordance with a first embodiment of theinvention, with parts-omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the wall panel systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing a mid-wall fastening in the array ofpanels of the first embodiment and illustrating one form of a revealinsert that may be used to cover the finished fastening;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 4-4 in FIG. 2 showing a vertical butt joint between two panelsin the array of panels;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 5-5 in FIG. 2 showing a vertical edge of the array of panelsand one form of trim that may be used to provide a finished verticaledge trim;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 6-6 in FIG. 2 showing a top edge of the array of panels and oneform of trim that may be used to provide a finished top edge trim;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 7-7 in FIG. 2 showing a horizontal joint between lower andupper panels in the array of panels of the first embodiment andillustrating a stacking rail trim strip that may be used to provide afinished horizontal joint;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the revealinsert used in the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing aninside corner in an array of panels of the first embodiment andillustrating one form of trim that may be used to provide a finishedinside corner trim;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing anoutside corner in an array of panels of the first embodiment andillustrating one form of trim that may be used to provide a finishedoutside corner trim;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing anoutside corner in an array of panels of a second embodiment andillustrating one form of trim that may be used to provide a finishedoutside corner trim;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing another form ofa reveal insert used in the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view through a panel showing alternative forms ofan upper trim edge, a lower trim edge and a mid-wall fasteningarrangement used in the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 13 showing an alternativeform of a lower trim edge used in the second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 13 showing additionalalternative forms of an upper trim edge and a lower trim edgearrangement used in the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an elevational front view of a wall surface formed by a threepanel array having reveal inserts in each panel forming portions of amore comprehensive combined or integrated design;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 17-17 inFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an elevational front view of a wall surface formed by a threepanel array having reveal inserts in each panel forming portions of amore comprehensive combined or integrated design;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 19-19 inFIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional taken along an outside corner in anarray of panels illustrating another form of trim that may be used toprovide a finished outside corner trim; and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the outside corner ofthe array of panels shown in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In accordance with the invention, a wall panel system includes aplurality of rectangular panels consisting of rows or courses ofhorizontally aligned panels assembled and mounted to provide a finishedwall surface. As required, the courses may be of indefinite length andpanels may be stacked in columns to provide a desired height.

The panels may be provided with substantially any desired surface finishand appearance. For example, the exposed panel surface may be providedwith a simulated wood grain, a single or multicolor, abstract or likesurface. Similarly, the panels may be provided with a wood veneer, ametal finish, or a high pressure laminate construction including amedium density fiberboard core or a particle board core and a backerlayer.

FIGS. 1 through 10 illustrate a first embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, a wall system 10 comprises a plurality ofpanels 12 a and 12 b mounted by a trim system 14 to a support wall 16.The support wall 16 may comprise a conventional drywall structuresupported by studs, such as the stud 18.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the panels 12 a are arranged in alower course 20 and the panels 12 b are arranged in an upper course 22.The panels 12 a are 4′ by 8′ and the panels 12 b are 4′ by 4′ so that awall system 10 provides a 12′ tall prefinished wall surface 24 ofindefinite length.

A plurality of reveals or grooves 26 are provided in the front orexposed surfaces of the panels 12 a and 12 b. In this embodiment, thegrooves 26 are arranged to intersect at right angles in a spaced patternthat divides the surface of each panel 12 a into eight squares and thesurface of each panel 12 b into four squares, all squares being of thesame size.

Reveal inserts 28 are mounted within the grooves 26 to further enhancethe appearance of the surface. In this manner, the panels 12 a, 12 bcooperate to provide the prefinished wall surface 24 with a repeatingpattern of relatively smaller square faux panels 30 that simulate theappearance of individual panels or tiles.

The wall panel system 10 is fastened directly to the support wall 16 byfasteners 32 mounted within the grooves 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Thefasteners 32 may comprise screws or nails. For purposes of addedreinforcement, the trim system 14 includes aluminum furring strips 34aligned with the grooves 26 and disposed at array edges. The strips 34may be of a suitable thickness, such as 16 gauge. If a vertical groove26 is aligned with a stud, such as stud 18, furring strip 34 is notrequired. The fasteners are covered by the reveal inserts 28 as shown inFIG. 2. The reveal inserts 28 are adhesively mounted within the grooves26.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the grooves 26 include mid-wall grooves26 a as shown in FIG. 3. Mid-wall grooves 26 a are provided for purposesof design and/or fastening the panel to the support wall. In addition tomid-wall grooves 26 a, vertical butt joint grooves 26 b are providedbetween the edges of adjacent panels as shown in FIG. 4. The butt jointgrooves 26 b are formed by mating router-cut channels or half-grooves 56extending along the edges of the panels 12 a.

The vertical edge of the wall panel system 10 is mounted to the supportwall 16 with a vertical edge trim strip 36 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.The horizontal lower and top edges of the wall panel system 10 arerespectively mounted with horizontal edge trim strips 38 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 6. The trim strips 36 and 38 may also be secured to thesupport wall 16 by the fasteners 32 comprising rails.

The trim strip 36 has an L-shaped cross-section including a base 40 anda perpendicularly extending trim wall 42 of substantially flat or planarconfiguration. The trim wall 42 is in substantial contact with theadjacent edge of the panel 12 a or 12 b, and protects the edge againstdelamination. The trim wall 42 is relatively thin, 1/16″ to 3/16″ thick,and projects beyond the surface on the panels about 0.03″ to a trimsurface 44 that is substantially parallel when the wall panel surface24.

The trim strip 38 has an L-shaped cross-section including a base 46 anda perpendicularly extending trim wall 48. The trim wall 48 also extendsabout 0.03″ beyond the wall surface 24 to a trim surface 50 that isparallel with the wall surface 24. The trim wall 48 also has asubstantially flat or planar configuration, but includes a laterallyprojecting tongue 52 sized to be received within a mating kerf or groove54 in the horizontal edge of the panel 12 b.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the panels 12 b of the upper course 22 areconnected to the panels 12 a of the lower course 20 by a stacking jointrail 60. The rail 60 has an H-shape cross-section including a base 62secured to the support wall 16 by fasteners 32. A central connector 64extends from the base 62 to a joining leg 66 that is disposed in avertical plane. The leg 66 includes lower and upper tongues 66 a and 66b respectively received in mating kerfs or grooves 54 cut in thehorizontal edges of the panels 12 a and 12 b. The leg 66 and the kerfs54 are sized to space apart the adjacent panel edges at the frontsurface of the array a distance corresponding with the thickness of thereveal insert 28.

The details of the cross-section of the reveal insert 28 are shown inFIG. 8. The insert 28 is reversibly mountable within the grooves 26, andtherefore includes opposed alternate finish surfaces 68 and 69. Thesurface 68 is provided with a concave configuration. The surface 69includes a pair of spaced grooves 69 a and 69 b. In addition toproviding desired aesthetics, the concave configuration of the surface68 and the grooves 69 a and 69 b of the surface 69 serve to retainadhesive used to mount the insert 28 in the groove 26.

Referring to FIG. 9, the wall panel system 10 is shown applied to aninside corner generally indicated at 70. The support wall 16 includeswalls 16a and 16b that intersect at substantially a right angle to formthe inside corner 70. In this instance, a first panel 12′, which may bea panel 12 a or 12 b, is mounted to the surface of the wall 16 a, as byfasteners 32. The edge of the panel 12′ received in the corner 70 istightly abutted against the surface of the support wall 16 b.

A vertical edge trim strip 36 is mounted to the wall 16 b by securingthe base 40 of the strip to the wall surface. A first side 42 a of thetrim wall 42 is positioned against the front or exposed surface of thepanel 12′. A second panel 12″, which also may be a panel 12 a or 12 b,is then mounted to the surface of the wall 16 b. The edge of the panel12″ is tightly butted against a second side 42 b of the trim wall 42.

The trim wall 42 extends beyond the front or exposed surface of thepanel 12″ to dispose the trim surface 44 in parallel and spacedrelationship with the front surface of the panel. It should beappreciated that the exposed portion of the trim wall 42 provides asimilar trim appearance with respect to the front or exposed surface ofthe panel 12′.

Referring to FIG. 10, an outside corner generally indicated at 72 isformed by the right angle intersection of walls 16 c and 16 d of thesupport wall 16. An outside corner trim strip 74 is mounted along thecorner. The trim strip 74 has an X-shaped cross-section formed by a pairof trim walls 76 and 78 that are joined at a right angle. The trim wallsextend to form base mounting legs 80 and 82 that are respectivelysecured to the surfaces of the walls 16 c and 16 b by fasteners 32. Thetrim strip 74 is particularly adapted for use with panels having athickness of about 7/16″.

For purposes of illustration, panels 12′ and 12″ are also shown formingthe outside corner 72. Accordingly, the edge of the panel 12′ abuts thetrim wall 76 and the edge of the panel 12″ abuts the trim wall 78. Eachof the trim walls 76, 78 extends slightly beyond the adjacent surface ofthe panel to form trim surfaces 84, 86. The trim surfaces 84, 86 arerespectively spaced from and parallel with the adjacent surfaces of thepanels 12′ and 12″.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the installation of the wallpanel system 10 is described. Initially, vertical trim strips 36 andlower horizontal trim strips 38 together with furring strips 34 aresecured to the support wall 16 at one extremity of the wall system. Afirst lower course 20 of adjacent panels 12a is engaged with the trimstrip 38 and fixed to the support wall with fasteners 32. Adjacentpanels 12 a are butted with half-grooves 56 joined to form a groove 26for receipt of an insert 28. An upper or second course of panels 12 bmay be mounted to the top edge of the panels 12 a with stacking jointrail 60 and fasteners 32. Any inside corners 70 and outside corners 72may be completed as described above.

The wall panel system 10 is then completed by application of horizontaltrim strip 38 to the upper edge of the panel array and vertical trimstrip 36 to the remaining vertical edge of the panel array. The revealinserts 28 are adhesively mounted within the grooves 26 of the panels12. The adhesive mounting of the inserts 28 is primarily intended toavoid tampering. Accordingly, the inserts may be removed without damageto the panels.

As noted above, the wall panel system 10 is non-progressive since asingle panel may be removed without prior removal of a neighboringcourse panel. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to remove anupper course panel before removing a lower course panel. Even suchlimited disassembly of upper and lower course panels providesconsiderable time and cost savings as compared with the disassemblyrequired in progressive systems.

Referring to FIG. 11, an outside corner 90 is completed by an outsidecorner trim strip 92 in accordance with a further embodiment of theinvention. This embodiment is particularly adapted for use with thickerpanels, e.g., ¾″ thick.

The trim strip 92 has a double-Y shaped cross section formed by a pairof trim walls 94 and 96 joined at a right angle intersection to form acommon leg 98. The leg 98 extends toward the support wall 16 to a pairof perpendicularly disposed base mounting legs 100 and 102. The mountinglegs 100 and 102 are secured to the support wall by fasteners 32.

In this embodiment, corner-forming panels 108 and 110, which maycomprise panels 12 a and 12 b, have shaped edges 108 a and 110 aengaging the trim strip 92. More particularly, the rearward portions ofthe edges 108 a and 110 a are chamfered to accommodate the angularintersection of the connecting leg 98. The forward portions of the edges108 a and 110 a are cut at right angles to the panel surface to assure atight abutting relationship with the trim walls 94 and 96. It should beappreciated that the rearward portions of the edges 108 a and 110 a maybe cut at any angle to clear the leg 98 and that such cuts need not befinish cuts.

Referring to FIG. 12, a reveal insert 112 especially adapted for use inconnection with relatively thicker panel systems is shown. The insert112 has a rectangular U-shaped cross-section including a concaveconnecting wall 114 joining opposed walls 116. The walls 116 are spacedto form an opening 118. The insert 112 may be mounted in a panel revealwith either the wall 114 or the opening 118 adjacent the front orexposed surface of the panel.

Referring to FIG. 13, a ¾″ thick panel 120 is shown mounted to a supportwall 122. To that end, a furring strip 124 is provided and fasteners 32are used. The lower edge of the panel 120 is supported by a horizontaledge trim strip 126 having a construction similar to the strip 38. Amid-wall fastening 128 includes a reveal or groove 130. The fasteners 32extend through the bottom of the groove 130, and they are covered by thereveal insert 112. In this embodiment, the reveal insert 112 is mountedwith the concave connecting wall 114 exposed.

The top edge of the panel 120 is secured to the support wall 122 by amodified horizontal edge trim strip 132. The trim strip 132 has aJ-shape including a base mounting leg 134 extending along and fastenedto the support wall 122. A laterally extending connecting wall 136projects from the base mounting leg 134 to a trim face wall 138 whichoverlies a portion of the upper surface of the panel 120. The trim facewall 138 may have a vertical dimension corresponding with that of thereveal insert 112.

The panel 120 is shown in FIG. 14 with a router cut forming a lower edgechannel 140 for receiving an insert 112. The resulting panel hasmatching mid-wall and lower edge trims. The top edge of the panel may becompleted with another trim strip 126 or an L-shaped trim strip 132 maybe used as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 15, the panel 120 is further modified to include arouter cut at its top edge to form an upper edge channel 142 which alsoreceives an insert 112. In this arrangement, the panel now has threeidentical inserts mounted at the top, mid and lower regions of thepanel. The inserts 112 may be mounted as shown or reversed to exposeopenings 118.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a wall panel system 150 includes aselected panel sequence comprising a central 4′ by 8′ wall panel 152 anda 2′ by 8′ column panel 154 on each side thereof. The adjacent verticalpanel edges are router cut to form half-grooves that cooperate to formgrooves 156. Horizontal grooves 156 are vertically spaced at 2′intervals.

Reveal inserts 158, such as inserts 28 or 112, are mounted within thegrooves 156. In this manner, the panels 152 and 154 cooperate to providethe wall panel system 150 with a wall panel surface 160. As shown, thewall panel surface 160 is formed of four 2′ by 4′ rectangular fauxpanels and eight 2′ by 2′ square faux panels.

The wall panel system 150 may be provided with an indefinite length byrepeating the selected panel sequence or three array pattern of wallpanels 152 and 154. The vertical and horizontal edges of the panel arraymay be completed with trim strips 36, 38, 126, with or without a matedreveal insert, or 132.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, a wall panel system 162 is shown. The wallpanel system includes a three panel sequence comprising a central 4′ by8′ panel 164 and a 2′ by 8′ column panel 166 on each side thereof. Onceagain, vertical and horizontal grooves 168 are scored in the surface ofthe panels and the adjacent vertical panel edges are router cut to formhalf-grooves that cooperate to form vertical grooves 168. Reveal inserts170, such as inserts 28 or 112, are mounted within the grooves 168.

Each of the panels includes a first pair of lower horizontal grooves 168containing inserts 170 located at a height of about 3′ from the panelbottom edges and vertically spaced apart about 2″. The panels alsoinclude a second pair of lower horizontal grooves and inserts, also atabout a 2″ spacing, and positioned about 4″ above the first pair oflower horizontal grooves. The groove pattern is completed by an uppergroove 168 and inserts 170 spaced about 8″ form the top edge of eachpanel.

The panels 164 and 166 cooperate to provide the wall panel system 162with a wall panel surface 172. In this arrangement, the faux panels andmultiple reveal inserts cooperate to provide the surface 172 with aplaid-like pattern characterized by groups of horizontal inserts andgroups of vertical inserts forming a pattern of unevenly spaced repeatedstripes crossing at right angles. The plaid-like pattern has a linearappearance as opposed to a geometric pattern of squares, rectangles orother closed simple shapes.

The three panel sequence or array may be repeated to provide the wallpanel system 162 with an indefinite length. The vertical and horizontaledges of the panel array may be completed with trim strips 36, 38, 126,with or without a mated reveal insert, or 132.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, an outside corner, generally indicated at178, is formed by the walls 16 c and 16 d of the support wall 16. Anoutside corner trim strip 180 is mounted along the corner to an outsidecorner mounting base 182. The strip 180 and the base 182 typicallyextend the full height of the wall.

The mounting base 182 includes mounting legs 184 and 186 secured to theadjacent walls 16 c and 16 d by fasteners 32. The legs 184 and 186 arejoined to a U-shape female mounting coupler 188 that is aligned with theintersection of the corner and opens outwardly to form a female mountingchannel 190 that extends along the full length of corner 178. Theinterior surface of the mounting channel is provided with teeth orgrooves 192.

The trim strip 180 includes a central corner portion 194 having arearwardly projecting male mounting rib 196 and laterally projectingtrim portions 198 and 200. The rib 196 has teeth or grooves 201extending along its exterior surface.

The rib 196 is sized to be laterally inserted or pushed into the channel190. The engaging teeth or grooves 192 and 198 form a mechanicalinterlock that secures the trim strip 180 to the mounting base 182.

The outside corner is finished with wall panels 12′ and 12″, which maybe provided by panels 12 a or 12 b. The adjacent corner edge of thepanel 12′ is cut at an acute angle to fit against the mounting coupler188. For purposes of illustration, the adjacent corner edge of the panel12″ is not specially finished, but rather, extends at a right angle asformed during manufacture. In both cases, the trim portions 198 and 200are provided with a sufficient lateral dimension to extend beyond thefinished surface edges of the panels 12′ and 12″ so that no specialfinish edge cut is required. Also, the trim portions 198 and 200 areconfigured to tightly abut against the surface on the panels 12′ and12″, and thereby provide a finished joint.

The trim portions 198 and 200 respectively include laterally disposedand vertically extending insert channels or trim slots 202 and 204. Thetrim slots 202 and 204 may have a lateral dimension of less than aninch, e.g., ⅝, as desired, and generally extend along substantially theentire lateral width of the trim portion. The vertical height of thetrim slots 202 and 204 generally corresponds with that of the outsidecorner trim strip 180.

The trim slots 202 and 204 have flat bottoms provided by the trimportions 198 and 200. The trim slots 202 and 204 are bounded byoverhangs 206 and 208 and, respectively associated, lips 210 and 212.The lips project from the trim portions 198 and 200, and have a slightreverse bend to provide a J-shape cross-section and overhang.

The trim slots 202 and 2Q4 have a thickness or depth equal to thicknessof commercially available laminate materials such as FORMICA brandlaminate, e.g., 0.030″ TO 0.060″. Laminate trim pieces 214 and 216 aremounted in the trim slots 202 and 204. The trim pieces 214 and 216 maybe inserted longitudinally into the trim slots prior to-the mounting ofthe trim strip 180, or they may be laterally flexed and pushed into thetrim slots.

The front or exposed surfaces of the trim pieces 214 and 216 arefinished and may match or contrast the front or exposed surfaces of thepanels 12′ and 12″. In most cases, the trim pieces 214 and 216 willmatch each other, but this is not necessary.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect toparticular embodiments thereof, this is for the purpose of illustrationrather than limitation, and other variations and modifications of thespecific embodiments herein shown and described will be apparent tothose skilled in the art all within the intended spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the patent is not to be limited in scope andeffect to the specific embodiments herein shown and described nor in anyother way that is inconsistent with the extent to which the progress inthe art has been advanced by the invention.

1. A kit for constructing a prefinished wall comprising a plurality oftrim elements for mounting of rectangular panels in an array to asupport wall to form said prefinished wall, said panels havinghorizontal edges, vertical edges and substantially planar surfacesextending between panel edges, said prefinished wall including at leastone outside corner formed by angularly intersecting panels, said trimelements including horizontal trim elements for mounting in a horizontaldirection along said horizontal panel edges, vertical trim elements formounting in a vertical direction along said vertical panel edges andoutside corner trim elements for mounting along vertical panel edges atsaid outside corner of said prefinished wall, each of said trim elementsincluding a base to be secured to said support wall and a trim wallextending from said base along the adjacent panel edge, said trim wallhaving a planar configuration that is in substantial continuous contactwith the entire area of said panel edge and projects beyond the adjacentpanel surface to a trim surface that is parallel with said panelsurface.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said vertical trim element hasan L-shape cross-section, said prefinished wall includes at least oneinside corner formed by abutting first and second panels separated by acorner mounted vertical trim element having opposed first and secondvertical sides, said corner mounted trim element extending along anadjacent edge of said first abutting panel with said first vertical sidein substantial contact with said panel edge and said second verticalside extending along the adjacent surface of said second abutting panel,said trim surface of said trim element being spaced from and parallelwith said panel surface of said first abutting panel and extendingperpendicularly along said panel surface of said second abutting panelwhereby said inside corner provides a finished trim appearance similarto that provided by said trim elements extending along the horizontaland vertical edges of said panels.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein saidtrim surface has a width equal to less than about 0.1 inch.
 4. The kitof claim 1, wherein said trim surface has a width equal to from about0.05 inch to about 0.125 inch.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein saidoutside corner trim element comprises a elongate channel having an Xshaped cross section formed by a pair of said trim walls joined at aright angle intersection, each of said trim walls extending from saidintersection to form said base as a pair of mounting legs.
 6. The kit ofclaim 1, wherein said outside corner trim element comprises an elongatechannel having a double-Y shaped cross-section formed by a pair of saidtrim walls joined at a first right angle intersection to form a commonleg extending from said intersection to a second right angleintersection formed by a pair of mounting legs projecting away from eachother at right angles and parallel with said trim walls.
 7. The kit ofclaim 1, wherein a said outside corner trim element includes a centralcorner element aligned with said intersection and laterally extendingtrim portions, said trim portions extending over adjacent vertical paneledges and including separately mounted trim pieces selected to match orcontrast said planar surfaces of said panels.
 8. The kit of claim 1,wherein said outside corner trim element is an integrally formedmetallic extrusion.
 9. The kit of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofintersecting grooves extend in said planar surfaces of said panels, andsaid kit further includes a plurality of reveal inserts mounted in saidgrooves.
 10. A wall panel system comprising a plurality of rectangularpanels adapted to be mounted in abutting relationship to a support wallin a planar array to form a finished wall, each panel having a generallyplanar surface extending between panel edges arranged along horizontallyand vertically extending directions, each of said panels having aplurality of intersecting grooves extending in the panel surfaceintermediate said panel edges, and a plurality of reveal inserts mountedin said grooves to subdivide the panel surface into a plurality ofsmaller rectangular faux panels.
 11. The wall panel system of claim 10,wherein said intersecting groove has a cross-section, adjacent paneledges each provide one-half of said groove cross-section and cooperateto form an edge groove corresponding in cross-section with saidcross-section of said intersecting groove, and said reveal inserts arealso mounted in said edge groove.
 12. The wall panel system of claim 11,wherein said panel array includes an array edge formed by vertical paneledges and an inside corner formed by angularly intersecting panels, andidentical elongate trim strips having trim walls for engaging paneledges form both a vertical trim for said vertical panel edges and aninside corner trim disposed between said angular and he intersectingpanels.
 13. The wall panel system of claim 11, wherein said intersectinggrooves in each of said panels cooperate to form horizontally alignedgrooves in an adjacent panels in said array of panels.
 14. The wallpanel system of claim 11, wherein said panels are of at least twodifferent area sizes.
 15. The wall panel system of claim 14, whereinsaid panels are of the same height and different widths.
 16. The wallpanel system of claim 15, wherein said panels of different sizes arearranged in a selected panel sequence and said panel sequence isrepeated to form said panel array of said prefinished wall.
 17. The wallpanel system of claim 10, wherein mounting fasteners extend through saidgrooves to secure said panel to said support wall, said mountingfasteners being hidden from view by said reveal inserts.
 18. The wallpanel system of claim 17, wherein said panels are individually mountedto said support wall to provide a nonprogressive panel system whereinany panel may be removed without prior removal of an adjacent panel. 19.The wall panel system of claim 10, wherein said intersecting grooves ineach of said panels cooperate to form a plaid-like pattern of unevenlyspaced repeated grooves crossing at right angles whereby the pattern hasan overall linear appearance.
 20. The wall panel system of claim 19,wherein said panels are of at least two different area sizes.
 21. Thewall panel system of claim 20, wherein said panels are of the sameheight and different widths.
 22. The wall panel system of claim 20,wherein said panels of different sizes are arranged in a selected panelsequence and said panel sequence is repeated to form said panel array ofsaid prefinished wall.
 23. In a wall panel system comprising a pluralityof panels adapted to be mounted to a support wall to form a prefinishedwall, each of said panels having a finished front surface extendingbetween panel edges lying in vertical and horizontal orientations, saidpanels including adjacent vertical edges forming at least one outsidecorner at the adjacent edges of intersecting first and second panels,the improvement comprising an outside corner trim element mounted tosaid support wall along said corner, said trim element including acentral corner element aligned with said intersection and laterallyextending trim portions, said trim portions extending over said adjacentvertical edges and including separately mounted trim pieces that may beselected to match or contrast said finished front surfaces of saidpanels.
 24. The wall system of claim 23, wherein said trim portionsinclude insert channels for receiving said trim pieces.
 25. The wallsystem of claim 24, wherein said insert channel has a heightsubstantially equal to the height of said outside corner trim element, awidth substantially equal to the lateral extent of said trim portion anda thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said trim piece. 26.The wall system of claim 25, wherein said insert channel is formed witha generally flat bottom and first and second opposed overhangs forreceiving opposite vertical edges of said trim piece.
 27. The wallsystem of claim 26, wherein said central corner element includes saidfirst overhang adjacent each of said trim portions, and a lip projectingfrom said trim portion provides said second overhang adjacent a lateralextremity of said trim portion.
 28. The wall system of claim 25, whereinsaid trim pieces are formed of a laminated plastic.
 29. The wall systemof claim 23, wherein said trim portions resiliently engage said panels.30. The wall system of claim 23, wherein said trim portions cover andhide from view said vertical panel edges at said corner.